July 27th Deadline Is
Only 2 Weeks Away
The Independent Music Awards helps indie artists, labels & releases get major results & overcome mainstream hurdles. IMA Winners are promoted to more than 11 Million music fans & industry via yearlong print, online & broadcast promotion, marketing & distribution opportunities.
Enter and Be Heard
Music icons, Rolling Stone editors, MTV and major film studio Music Supervisors & Social Action iconoclasts are only some of the 11 Million music fans & industry your music can reach by entering the IMAs.
2008 Artist Judges Include:
Snoop Dogg
Iconic in stature and in essence, Cordozar Calvin Broadus, Jr. has carved out a permanent place in musical history. Undeniably, the rapper, producer, actor, entrepreneur, coach, husband and father affectionately called Snoop Dogg, has performed the most unique balancing act that hip hop has ever witnessed. Never short on vision, drive or ambition, the C-walking, sharp talking wordsworth has managed to redefine and reinvent himself over the course of his fifteen year career, each time revealing a distinctive cache from the depths within. His rhythmic cadences are classic in nature and his demeanor is as laid back and effortless as the brand extensions he has created for himself.
With his eighth installment Tha Blue Carpet Treatment on Doggystyle/Geffen, the ultimate boss player is prepared to retain his thrown as the King of the West Coast. Instead of rolling out the red carpet, in true Snoop fashion, the royal blue is only befitting of this king. Reconnecting with the man that put him in the game, production wizard Dr. Dre, Snoop's laser like focus is as sharp as the needle that Dre drops on the record and his execution can only reflect the exemplary standard they have set on their timeless collaborations throughout the years.
Susan Tedeschi
Whether sharing the stage with the Rolling Stones, BB King,
Willie Nelson or Sheryl Crow; performing on national TV or singing the American National Anthem at NY Knicks, Boston Red Sox and Celtics games, four-time GRAMMY® award nominee blues vocalist & guitarist, Susan Tedeschi, always delivers.
With six albums and one live DVD under her belt, she has sold well over a million records in the US, alone. Tedeschi has developed a loyal, grassroots following garnered from years of touring, potent live shows and radio support. Critically acclaimed, she has scored four Grammy nominations, from 2000 - 2007 including Best New Artist in 2001, Best Female Rock Vocal in 2003, and best Contemporary Blues Album in 2004 & 2007. She has been recognized for both her recorded & live performances with awards from WC Handy Awards and Boston Music Awards, etc. With distribution by Universal records, Tedeschi intends to expand her international career by supporting her releases on Verve Forecast / Universal Music Group.
Frank Iero
Although he plays guitar in one of the most popular bands today, My Chemical Romance, and fronts indie hardcore band Leathermouth, Frank Iero continues to support indie music and the DIY lifestyle. When he's not touring across the world, headlining festivals or busy posing for magazine covers, Iero gives back to the scene through Skeleton Crew, his music label & publishing company.
Relentless touring and a fanatical fan following have been majors contributors to the success of My Chemical Romance. Shortly after forming, the band signed to indie label Eyeball Records and released its debut album, I Brought You My Bullets, You Brought Me Your Love, in 2002. Reprise Records signed MCR the next year and released the band's Double Platinum selling major label debut, Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge, in 2004. Shortly after, the Life on the Murder Scene DVD went Gold. MCR's most recent release, The Black Parade, went Platinum and reached #2 of the Billboard Charts. The song, "Welcome to the Black Parade," became the band's first #1 Modern Rock simultaneously in the UK and US, where it stayed for seven weeks.
Chuck Comeau
Chuck Comeau is heavily involved in all business aspects and plays drums in the Lava/Atlantic pop/punk rock band Simple Plan. The French-Canadian group has released two studio albums: No Pads, No Helmets...Just Balls (2002) [US (2x Platinum), Canada (4x Platinum), Japan (2x Platinum), Australia, Indonesia, Malaysia, New Zealand, Philippines, Singapore (Gold)] and Still Not Getting Any... (2004) [US, New Zealand (Platinum), Australia, Indonesia (2x Platinum), Canada (4x Platinum), Japan (Platinum), Mexico, Brazil, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand (Gold)]; as well as two live albums: Live in Japan (2002) and MTV Hard Rock Live (2005). Its debut album, "No Pads, No Helmets.Just Balls" sold over four million copies worldwide and spawned several Top 10 hits. Not to mention a Gold selling DVD, endless tours with Avril Lavigne, Good Charlotte, Green Day & others, a headlining spot on the Vans Warped Tour, several #1 Videos on MTV's TRL and a nomination for Best New Artist at the 2003 MTV Video Music Awards. Simple Plan won the Favorite Canadian Band Award at the MuchMusic Video Awards a record breaking four years in a row, their first Juno in April 2006 for People's Choice Favorite Canadian Group, Favorite Pop Act at the 2005 MTV Asia Awards, and Choice Rock Group at the 2005 Teen Choice Awards.
MickDeth
Mick started his music career straight out of high school playing in bands around his hometown of Salt Lake City, Utah. His band, XclearX, toured the country and gained a dedicated following in the Hardcore Straight-Edge community. In '99, XclearX did a short winter run with the Orange County band Eighteen Visions. Things clicked with Mick and the 18v boys and he ended up packing his bags and moving out to California to start a new life and career as the band's bass player. Since then, Eighteen Visions has released two records on premiere indie label Trustkill Records and two major label releases through Epic Records. Eighteen Visions has toured worldwide playing many fests including two stints on Warped Tour and hit the road with such acts as Avenged Sevenfold, Hinder, Buckcherry, Kittie, AFI, Lostprophets, Bullet for My Valentine, Killswitch Engage, HIM, Lamb of God and Atreyu...just to name a few. As the band stays busy, Mick also stays busy with his clothing line, Dethless Clothing, which specializes in Horror-style apparel. Mick followed his dream of rockin' the world and made it a reality.
Martin Atkins
From Public Image Ltd. to Nine Inch Nails, Atkins is known for his innovative tribal drumming, groundbreaking production, and his 20 year-old label Invisible. This entrepreneur now has a new book, Tour:Smart, has guest-lectured worldwide on the business of touring, and writes a weekly band advice column on The Suicide Girls site........catch him out on some Ozzfest dates and in a town near you soon!
2008 Industry Judges Include:
Annie Lin Director of Creative Licensing - The Orchard
Annie Lin is the Director of Creative Licensing for The Orchard. She
handles all film and television licensing for The Orchard, working with
music supervisors, producers and studios to bring independent music to a
wide variety of film and TV productions. Recent motion picture
placements include "John Tucker Must Die" (20th Century Fox), "Surf's
Up" (Columbia/Tri-Star), "Flushed Away" (DreamWorks/SKG), "Norbit"
(DreamWorks/SKG) and "Grindhouse" (Dimension Films, for the Quentin
Tarantino/Robert Rodriguez double feature) and TV placements with NBC,
CBS-Paramount, WB, and the Showtime Network's acclaimed series "Dexter".
The Orchard offers film, broadcast, advertisers and new media companies
access to its diverse music catalogue of over one million master
recordings, representing every music genre and spanning international
multi-platinum acts, cutting-edge breaking bands, and iconic,
historically significant regional music. Annie earned her B.A. from Rice
University and her J.D. from the University of Houston, and is also a
songwriter and musician.
David Wilkes A&R - Koch Records
David Wilkes has made major contributions to shaping and re-shaping the music world as we see it today. He has done everything from producer to manager and publishing.
Currently, David is Vice President of A&R at Koch Records.
Carol Lester Publishing - Mamapalooza
Whether unplugged or backed by the World Women Ensemble, Carol Lester simmers with emotion and passion. An active national leader in the grass roots and social cause music scene, this award-winning ASCAP writer is a featured performer on SOUNDS OF HOPE and NYC ARTISTS REMEMBER 9/11. Songs from her three indie CDs have been licensed for use in TV, Film & Radio projects including USA TV Network, The Red Cross, and 9/11 Memorial Commission, among others. And because there are 24 hours in the day, Ms. Lester is a partner in Mamapublooza Publishing, a division of Mamapalooza Records for which she is also a featured artist and a co-founder and long time Board President of one of the most successful urban Charter Schools in New Jersey.
Carrie Istad Talent Buyer - Key Club, LA
Carrie Istad is the Local Talent Buyer for the Key Club, located on the legendary Sunset Strip in West Hollywood, CA. She began working at Key Club in 2002, and has since been named Talent Buyer of the Year by the LA Music Awards.
Carrie is the creator and booker of RUBY, the SPIN Magazine sponsored weekly indie-rock showcase (voted one of the top showcases in Los Angeles). Additionally, she books all Key Club support slots for national touring artists, the nationally acclaimed Metal Skool show, as well as multi-genre local music showcases on a regular basis.
Prior to her employment at Key Club, Carrie worked at KIIS FM and STAR 98.7 in promotions in Los Angeles.
Lior Goldenberg Producer
Producer/Mixer Lior Goldenberg has recorded with some of the biggest names across the musical spectrum including: Ringo Starr, Sheryl Crow, Rancid, Alanis Morissette, MxPx, H20, Macy Gray, Alice Cooper, Vanessa Carlton, Juliana Hatfield, Ozzy Osbourne, Ziggy Marley, Robert Downey Jr. and Lindsay Lohan and additionally, with some of the greatest up-and-coming artists around including: The Hanks, The Ringers, Oliver Future, Boy In The Bubble, The Forward, and Phathom, to name a few.
Scott Reifman Talent Buyer - The Roxy, LA
Scott Reifman is the talent buyer for The Roxy in Los Angeles.
Ethan Allen Producer
Ethan Allen began his musical career playing in bands and writing songs in
Austin, Texas. It was also there that he began learning to record, working
first at a small jingle studio, and later at Arlyn and Pedernales, Willie
Nelson's two studios and at the time the largest studios in town.
In 1995, Ethan accepted an invitation to come and work at Kingsway,
producer Daniel Lanois' recording studio located in the French Quarter of
New Orleans. While there, he eventually became house engineer and worked
on many major label and independent records with a wide variety of artists,
producers, engineers, and musical styles.
In 2000, Ethan left that position to become a freelance engineer and
producer, and also helped to found the Truck Farm Studio in the upper ninth
ward of New Orleans. In 2003, he moved to Los Angeles where he now lives
and has a studio in Silverlake. Some of his credits include albums from Better Than Ezra, Throwing Muses, Luscious Jackson, Tricky, Ani DiFranco, Galactic, Patty Griffin, and Melissa Ferrick.
Jennifer DaRe President - ATN Management
Jennifer DaRe, President of ATN Management and a hands-on independent manager, represents THE HANKS, The Forward and producer/mixer Lior Goldenberg. With 20 years in the music industry, and 8 years in talent management, Ms DaRe, has amassed a network of industry contacts with whom to collaborate in developing and growing ATN Management. Ms DaRe, with a well-rounded and proven managerial style unique in the music industry, is especially known for managing and supporting artists in every aspect of their work and life enabling them to achieve their goals for a long-term and successful career in music.
Ben Fong-Torres Journalist/Author/Broadcaster
Ben Fong-Torres began writing for Rolling Stone magazine at the age of 23 in 1968 when the magazine was just 8 issues old. He eventually joined the staff a year later as the News Editor. Over the course of his twelve-year tenure with the preeminent music/culture publication, he wrote 37 cover stories and an additional estimated 360 credited stories. After leaving Rolling Stone, Fong-Torres went on to write for many other publications, including The San Francisco Chronicle (where he was a feature writer and radio columnist for 9 years), Esquire, GQ (music editor for 3 years), Playboy, Parade, Sports Illustrated, Travel & Leisure, American Film, TV Guide, Harper’s Bazaar, and California Business.
From 1970-1979, Fong-Torres was a weekend DJ on San Francisco’s KSAN, and later won a Billboard Award for Broadcast Excellence for his syndicated radio special, San Francisco: What A Long Strange Trip It’s Been.
His memoir, The Rice Room, was published by Hyperion in 1994, and he has since written and edited a number of other books, including The Motown Album: The Sound of Young America, Hickory Wind: The Life and Times of Gram Parsons, The Hits Just Keep On Coming: The History of Top 40 Radio, Not Fade Away: A Backstage Pass to 20 Years of Rock & Roll, and most recently, The Doors, a band-biography culled from interviews with the surviving members of the 1960s psych-rock troupe, and Becoming Almost Famous: My Back Pages in Music, Writing, and Life, a collection of articles and essays from Fong-Torres’s long career.
Elena Rossi Pop Promotion Coordinator - Columbia Records
Elena Rossi started her career as a College and Lifestyle Marketing Rep for Universal Music, before venturing into the world of Radio Promotion (first as an assistant and later coordinator) at Aim Strategies. She now resides at Columbia Records as Pop Promotion Coordinator and has worked in various genres including Rock, AAA and Pop; with some of the biggest names in the biz.
Brett Kimberlin Director - Justice Through Music
Brett Kimberlin is a lifelong musician and the Director of Justice Through Music, a non-profit organization that works with famous bands to inspire youth to participate in the political process by voting and supporting civil rights. Brett is also co-founder of VelvetRevolution.us, an activist organization dedicated to empowering people toward enlightened government policies and a progressive agenda. Brett's band, Op-Critical, has been pushing the envelope with its hard-hitting protest music and videos; the latest, called "Happy Springtime, Bush Is Over," is a huge hit on YouTube and MySpace.
To view an up-to-date and complete list of IMA judges, visit: http://independentmusicawards.com/ima/imajudges2008.asp
Partners Spotlight
Kiwi FM is New Zealand’s radio network, playing 100% New Zealand music for New Zealanders everywhere. It’s international, it’s distinctive, it’s comprehensive and, best of all, it sounds brilliant. Kiwi FM has a huge line-up of regular and specialist shows, access to the people making all the headlines here and overseas, the greatest collection of New Zealand music and a real connection to our people everywhere. Kiwi FM is all about us and it’s the world’s new window into this nation’s finest musical output. If it stacks up to the best music on the planet then you’ll hear it on Kiwi FM, and you can trust that each and every announcer on the Kiwi FM network is passionate, knowledgeable and an expert in their chosen musical field. Citizens of the world can link to the Kiwi FM live stream 24/7 at www.kiwifm.co.nz.
Entries for the upcoming Independent Music Awards
must be postmarked by July 27, 2007.
Get Details & Entry Forms at : www.IndependentMusicAwards.com
Support Independent music, become an IMA Sponsor
Contact Joelle: Joelle@IndependentMusicAwards.com
